Create a Google Developers Console project

Oct 13, 2025 by thesweetdesigns.com 48 views

Introduction

Implementing Google Sign In services in your LibGDX game can be a bit tricky, especially when it comes to handling the changes in Google's API. In this article, we will guide you through the process of implementing Google Sign In services in your LibGDX game, focusing on the latest changes and best practices.

What's Changed with Google Sign In Services

As you mentioned, Google has removed the GameHelper utility, which made it easier to implement Google Sign In services in your game. Now, you need to use the Google Play Services API directly. This change might seem daunting, but don't worry, we'll walk you through the process step by step.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the implementation, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

A Google Developers Console project set up
The Google Play Services SDK installed in your Android project
The Google Sign In API enabled in your project
A Google account with the necessary permissions

Step 1: Set Up the Google Play Services SDK

To use the Google Play Services SDK, you need to add the following dependencies to your build.gradle file:

dependencies {
    implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-auth:20.1.0'
    implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-base:20.1.0'
}

Step 2: Initialize the Google Play Services Client

In your Android game's onCreate method, initialize the Google Play Services client:

import com.google.android.gms.common.ConnectionResult;
import com.google.android.gms.common.GoogleApiAvailability;
import com.google.android.gms.common.GooglePlayServicesUtil;
import com.google.android.gms.common.api.GoogleApiClient;

public class GameActivity extends AndroidApplication {
    private GoogleApiClient mGoogleApiClient;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        mGoogleApiClient = new GoogleApiClient.Builder(this)
                .addApi(Auth.GOOGLE_SIGN_IN_API)
                .build();
    }
}

Step 3: Implement the Google Sign In Button

Create a Google Sign In button in your game's UI:

import com.google.android.gms.common.SignInButton;

public class GameActivity extends AndroidApplication {
    private SignInButton mSignInButton;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        mSignInButton = new SignInButton(this);
        mSignInButton.setSize(SignInButton.SIZE_STANDARD);
        setContentView(mSignInButton);
    }
}

Step 4: Handle the Google Sign In Button Click

When the user clicks the Google Sign In button, handle the click event:

import com.google.android.gms.auth.api.signin.GoogleSignIn;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.api.signin.GoogleSignInAccount;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.api.signin.GoogleSignInClient;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.api.signin.GoogleSignInOptions;
import com.google.android.gms.common.api.ApiException;
import com.google.android.gms.tasks.Task;

public class GameActivity extends AndroidApplication {
    private GoogleSignInClient mGoogleSignInClient;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        GoogleSignInOptions gso = new GoogleSignInOptions.Builder(GoogleSignInOptions.DEFAULT_SIGN_IN)
                .requestEmail()
                .build();
        mGoogleSignInClient = GoogleSignIn.getClient(this, gso);
    }

    public void onSignInButtonClicked(View view) {
        Intent signInIntent = mGoogleSignInClient.getSignInIntent();
        startActivityForResult(signInIntent, RC_SIGN_IN);
    }

    @Override
    protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
        super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
        if (requestCode == RC_SIGN_IN) {
            Task<GoogleSignInAccount> task = GoogleSignIn.getSignedInAccountFromIntent(data);
            try {
                GoogleSignInAccount account = task.getResult(ApiException.class);
                // Signed in successfully, show authenticated UI.
                updateUI(account);
            } catch (ApiException e) {
                // The user canceled the sign-in flow.
                updateUI(null);
            }
        }
    }

    private void updateUI(GoogleSignInAccount account) {
        if (account != null) {
            // Signed in successfully, show authenticated UI.
            // ...
        } else {
            // The user canceled the sign-in flow.
            // ...
        }
    }
}

Step 5: Handle the Google Sign Out

When the user wants to sign out, handle the sign out event:

public class GameActivity extends AndroidApplication {
    private GoogleSignInClient mGoogleSignInClient;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        GoogleSignInOptions gso = new GoogleSignInOptions.Builder(GoogleSignInOptions.DEFAULT_SIGN_IN)
                .requestEmail()
                .build();
        mGoogleSignInClient = GoogleSignIn.getClient(this, gso);
    }

    public void onSignOutButtonClicked(View view) {
        mGoogleSignInClient.signOut()
                .addOnCompleteListener(this, new OnCompleteListener<Void>() {
                    @Override
                    public void onComplete(@NonNull Task<Void> task) {
                        // Signed out successfully.
                        updateUI(null);
                    }
                });
    }
}

Conclusion

Implementing Google Sign In services in your LibGDX game can be a bit tricky, but with these steps, you should be able to get it working. Remember to handle the changes in Google's API and best practices to ensure a smooth user experience.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues during the implementation, here are some common troubleshooting steps:

Make sure you have the necessary dependencies in your build.gradle file.
Check that you have initialized the Google Play Services client correctly.
Verify that you have implemented the Google Sign In button correctly.
Ensure that you have handled the Google Sign In button click event correctly.
Check that you have handled the Google Sign Out event correctly.

Q: What are the benefits of using Google Sign In services in my LibGDX game?

A: Using Google Sign In services in your LibGDX game provides several benefits, including:

Easy user authentication: Google Sign In services allow users to sign in to your game using their existing Google account, making it easy for them to authenticate and access your game's features.
Reduced friction: By using Google Sign In services, you can reduce the friction associated with user authentication, making it easier for users to access your game.
Improved user experience: Google Sign In services provide a seamless and secure user experience, which can improve user engagement and retention.

Q: What are the requirements for implementing Google Sign In services in my LibGDX game?

A: To implement Google Sign In services in your LibGDX game, you need to:

Create a Google Developers Console project: You need to create a Google Developers Console project and enable the Google Sign In API.
Add the Google Play Services SDK to your project: You need to add the Google Play Services SDK to your LibGDX project.
Initialize the Google Play Services client: You need to initialize the Google Play Services client in your game's onCreate method.
Implement the Google Sign In button: You need to implement the Google Sign In button in your game's UI.
Handle the Google Sign In button click event: You need to handle the Google Sign In button click event to authenticate the user.

Q: How do I handle the Google Sign In button click event in my LibGDX game?

A: To handle the Google Sign In button click event in your LibGDX game, you need to:

Create a GoogleSignInClient instance: You need to create a GoogleSignInClient instance in your game's onCreate method.
Get the sign-in intent: You need to get the sign-in intent from the GoogleSignInClient instance.
Start the sign-in activity: You need to start the sign-in activity using the sign-in intent.
Handle the sign-in result: You need to handle the sign-in result to authenticate the user.

Q: How do I handle the Google Sign Out event in my LibGDX game?

A: To handle the Google Sign Out event in your LibGDX game, you need to:

Create a GoogleSignInClient instance: You need to create a GoogleSignInClient instance in your game's onCreate method.
Sign out the user: You need to sign out the user using the GoogleSignInClient instance.
Handle the sign-out result: You need to handle the sign-out result to update the user's authentication status.

Q: What are some common issues that I may encounter when implementing Google Sign In services in my LibGDX game?

A: Some common issues that you may encounter when implementing Google Sign In services in your LibGDX game include:

Missing dependencies: You may encounter issues if you miss any dependencies in your build.gradle file.
Incorrect initialization: You may encounter issues if you initialize the Google Play Services client incorrectly.
Incorrect button implementation: You may encounter issues if you implement the Google Sign In button incorrectly.
Incorrect event handling: You may encounter issues if you handle the Google Sign In button click event or sign-out event incorrectly.

Q: How can I troubleshoot issues with Google Sign In services in my LibGDX game?

A: To troubleshoot issues with Google Sign In services in your LibGDX game, you can:

Check the Google Developers Console project: You can check the Google Developers Console project to ensure that the Google Sign In API is enabled.
Check the Google Play Services SDK: You can check the Google Play Services SDK to ensure that it is correctly installed and configured.
Check the button implementation: You can check the button implementation to ensure that it is correctly implemented.
Check the event handling: You can check the event handling to ensure that it is correctly implemented.

By following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you should be able to implement Google Sign In services in your LibGDX game successfully.